On November 8th, Mississippi will vote on whether or not to accept the following anti-choice amendment: "The term 'person' or 'persons' shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof."

However, this initiative—known as Amendment 26 or the "personhood amendment"—isn't just a matter of outlawing abortion in Mississippi or a vehicle to challenge Roe vs. Wade. If passed, this legislation will have many other far-reaching effects such as banning most or possibly all forms of birth control, banning some forms of infertility treatment, and opening the door to bringing criminal charges against women who have a miscarriage.

In a further effort to gain attention and spread information, a petition directed at the Attorney General of Mississippi (who is presently in favor of Amendment 26) has been created here:

From the petition: "The reproductive and bodily rights of women should not be policed. Critical birth control medication should not be taken from any women - especially since birth control can have other important health effects and benefits aside from contraception. A miscarriage should not be equated to the murder of a child. Abortion should remain legal - and safe. This amendment is dangerous, radical thinking that prioritizes the rights of a fetus over the rights of born, living women everywhere."

Show your support for a woman's right to her own body: please click the link above and sign the petition to support stopping Amendment 26!

--------------------Further Resources:Wake Up Mississippi - a grassroots movement started by Jackson Women’s Health Organization has information available on their website as well as a link to help donate to their efforts. Among other efforts, they are currently trying to get billboards up to help spread the truth about Amendment 26. Also, if you happen to have a Facebook account, please give them some Likes at their FB page.

Parents Against MS 26 is another good page that is particularly informative about how Amendment 26 could negatively affect infertility treatments. They also have a donation link set up.